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Essentials of Geology, 9e
Volcanic Activity Chapter 4 Instructor Jennifer Barson
Spokane Falls Community College Geology 101

The Nature of Volcanic Eruptions

Factors determining the violence or explosiveness of a volcanic eruption
Composition of the magma Temperature of the magma Dissolved gases in the magma

The above three factors actually control the viscosity of a given magma which in turn controls the nature of an eruption

The Nature of Volcanic Eruptions

Viscosity is a measure of a materials resistance to flow (e.g., Higher viscosity materials flow with great difficulty) 3 Factors affecting viscosity Temperature - Hotter magmas are less viscous Composition - Silica (SiO2) content
Higher silica content = higher viscosity

The Nature of Volcanic Eruptions

Factors affecting viscosity, continued
Dissolved Gases
Gas content affects magma mobility Gases expand within a magma as it nears the Earths surface due to decreasing pressure The violence of an eruption is related to how easily gases escape from magma

(e.g., felsic lava such as rhyolite) Lower silica content = lower viscosity or more fluid-like behavior (e.g., mafic lava such as basalt)

The Nature of Volcanic Eruptions

Factors affecting viscosity, continued
In Summary Fluid basaltic lavas generally produce quiet eruptions Highly viscous lavas (rhyolite or andesite) produce more explosive eruptions

Materials extruded from a volcano

Lava Flows
Basaltic lavas are much more fluid Types of basaltic flows
Pahoehoe lava (resembles a twisted or ropey texture) Aa lava (rough, jagged blocky texture)

Dissolved Gases
One to six percent of a magma by weight Mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide

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aa flow

pahoehoe

Materials extruded from a volcano

Pyroclastic materials Fire fragments
Types of pyroclastic debris Ash and dust - fine, glassy fragments Pumice - porous rock from frothy lava Lapilli - walnut-sized material Cinders - pea-sized material Particles larger than lapilli Blocks - hardened or cooled lava Bombs - ejected as hot lava

Figure 4.7 A & B

Volcanoes
General Features
Opening at the summit of a volcano
Crater - steep-walled depression at the summit, generally less than 1 km in diameter Caldera - a summit depression typically greater than 1 km in diameter, produced by collapse following a massive eruption

Vent opening connected to the magma chamber via a pipe

Figure 4.9

Volcanoes
3 Types of Volcanoes
Shield volcano
Broad, slightly domed-shaped Composed primarily of basaltic lava Generally cover large areas Produced by mild eruptions of large volumes of lava Mauna Loa on Hawaii is a good example

Mauna Loa a shield volcano

Figure 4.12

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Volcanoes
Types of Volcanoes continued
Cinder cone
Built from ejected lava (mainly cinder-sized) fragments Steep slope angle Rather small size Frequently occur in groups

Sunset Crater a cinder cone

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Volcanoes
Types of volcanoes continued
Composite cone (Stratovolcano)
Most are located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean (e.g., Fujiyama, Mt. St. Helens) Large, classic-shaped volcano (1000s of ft. high & several miles wide at base) Composed of interbedded lava flows and layers of pyroclastic debris

Volcanoes
Composite cones, continued
Most violent type of activity (e.g., Mt. Vesuvius) Often produce a nue ardente Fiery pyroclastic flow made of hot gases infused with ash and other debris Move down the slopes of a volcano at speeds up to 200 km per hour May produce a lahar, which is a volcanic mudflow

A composite volcano

Other Volcanic Landforms

Calderas
Steep-walled depressions at the summit Size generally exceeds 1 km in diameter

Pyroclastic flows
Associated with felsic & intermediate magma Consists of ash, pumice, and other fragmental debris Material is propelled from the vent at a high speed
Figure 4.10

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A nue ardente on Mt. St. Helens

Figure 4.1a

Figure 4.20

Figure 4.1b

Figure 4.2

Figure 4.22

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Formation of Crater Lake, Oregon

A Size Comparison

Caldera
Figure 4.22
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Other Volcanic Landforms

Fissure eruptions and lava plateaus
Fluid basaltic lava extruded from crustal fractures called fissures e.g., Columbia River Plateau

The Columbia River basalts

Lava Domes
Bulbous mass of congealed lava Most are associated with explosive eruptions of gas-rich magma

Figure 4.23

A lava dome on Mt. St. Helens

The Columbia River basalts

Copyright 2006 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.

Figure 4.24

Figure 4.25

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Other Volcanic Landforms

Volcanic pipes and necks
Pipes are short conduits that connect a magma chamber to the surface Volcanic necks (e.g., Ship Rock, New Mexico) are resistant vents left standing after erosion has removed the volcanic cone

Formation of a volcanic neck

Figure 4.27

Plutonic Igneous Activity

Most magma is emplaced at depth within the Earth
An underground igneous body, once cooled and solidified, is called a pluton

Plutonic Igneous Activity

Classification of plutons
Shape
Tabular (sheetlike) Massive

Orientation with respect to the host (surrounding) rock

Discordant cuts across sedimentary rock units Concordant parallel to sedimentary rock units

Plutonic Igneous Activity

Types of intrusive igneous features
Dike a tabular, discordant pluton Sill a tabular, concordant pluton (e.g., Palisades Sill in New York) Laccolith
Similar to a sill Lens or mushroom-shaped mass Arches overlying strata upward

Intrusive Igneous Structures

Batholith
Largest intrusive body Figure 4.28 A

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Intrusive igneous structures exposed by erosion

Sill - Salt River Canyon, Arizona

Figure 4.30 Figure 4.23 B

Plutonic Igneous Activity

Intrusive igneous features continued
Batholith
Largest intrusive body Surface exposure of 100+ square kilometers (smaller bodies are termed stocks) Frequently form the cores of mountains

A batholith exposed by erosion

Figure 4.28

Plate Tectonics and Igneous Activity

Global distribution of igneous activity is not random
Most volcanoes are located within or near ocean basins Basaltic rocks are common in both oceanic and continental settings, whereas granitic rocks are rarely found in the oceans Active volcanoes are often associated with plate boundaries

Plate Tectonics and Igneous Activity

Subduction zone (convergent)
Rising magma can form either
An island arc if in the ocean A volcanic arc if on a continental margin

Spreading centers (divergent)

The greatest volume of volcanic rock is produced along the oceanic ridge system

Intraplate volcanism
Activity within a tectonic plate, associated with plumes of heat in the mantle Form localized volcanic regions in the overriding plate called a hot spot

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Distribution of some of the worlds major volcanoes

Figure 4.33

Figure 4.18

Volcanism on a tectonic plate moving over a hot spot

Figure 4.34 Figure 4.35

End of Chapter 4

Figure 4.34